Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-03-10

Chip i'm for Churches in the Territory
An Earnest Appeal.
New York Herald. A tall man with
sharp features, closely cut side whiskers
and q mile minute style of oratory
stepped into the gorgeous brass pulpit OF
the Zion church on Madison avenue. He
was the Right Rev. William II. Hare
missionary bishop ofsouthern Dakota.
The need for missionary money In
Dakota" he said, "is pressing. Not
only among the Sioux Indians do we
need to double our efforts, but also
among the white people who are rush
ing IN to found new towns upon the
vast prairies OF that country. Language
cannot exaggerate the rapidity with
which these communities are built up
You may stand ankle deep in the short
burnt grass of an unlnhabited wilder
ness-next month mixed train will
glide over the waste and stop at some
point where the railway has decided to
locate town. Men, women and child
rem will jump out of the cars, and their
chattels will be tumbled out after them.
From that moment the building begins.
"The courage and faith of these pIo-
neers Is something extraordinary.
Their spirit seems to rise above all
obstacles.
II have ridden into Dakota valley and
pitched my tent. Alter my supper,
lolling upon my buffalo robe, L have
looked around, seen nothing on the land
scape, nothing but a wolf that looked
down from hill into the. valley to see
who the intruder was. When ] visited
that valley the next year | saw long
train OF Pullman palace cars. In that
same trip / csmped in fiat bottom land
near the Missouri river. There was no
sign of civilization there but log hut
with mud roof. 1t was the home OF O
Frenchman who had married an Indian
woman. Within the year I revisited
the spot and saw town of 800 people.
Ii has increased since to 1000.
"The sound of the carpenters hammer
and saw is heard every day in She week,
Sunday included. Church bells are
banished from such scenes. All is work
and hustle. Men and women quickly
catch the spirit OF the pioneer and in the
struggle for improvements all else is
forgotten.
"rhe spiritual and moral needs of this
people must be minlsteYed to or they
will rapidly forget all the old religious
habits OF worship. Everything men,
women, money and material--oomes
from the outside. There is nothing in
the country but opportunity. The peo-
pie must create everything. They want
churches and schools. 1t is astounding
to know how great is the demand for
churches. Some men want them because
it helps the sale of town lots to advertise
that there is q church, others want them
for their wives and children and still
others want them for themselves.
Everybody offers to chip in for o
church if / will help. They say: Now,
bishop. we'll CHIP in few lots OF ground
and ST. 600 in cash for church il you'll
raise $780, just think of it'll Saloon.
keeps, iDfidels, gamblers and ell sorts OF
men ready to invest their money In the
church. All we have to do is to give o
little aid ourselves. From all sides
came offers TO help to build girls
school, TO be conducted under
the auspices of the Epis-
copal church. Finally located
good town. Then called the people
together and hung picture of the pro,
posed school building on the wall. "See
here" said III will build that school
In this town if you will give 10000
toward It," ] thought would make
the figure very high. Inside of half al
hour the offer was accepted, and within
Itwenty-four hours the money and land
| were furnished to me. A fine building
of stone, from foundation to roof, wai
built, and the school has been going OF
TO? eighteen months.
"Talk about the magnificent chances
for investment in Wall street. There
never we're such tempting offers as are
given to the church of God in Dakota
It's perfectly Intoxicating. Everybody
there will chip in Won't you chip in
too, in the name of our dear Lord
Christi"